Model-railroad car having animated parts



May 16, 1961 H. A. LINGARD ETAL 2,984,044

MODEL-RAILROAD cm HAVING ANIMATED PARTS Filed Aug. 13, 1959 wrnm w Wm 0 JNVENTORS. 14/ 1/9010 A Z/lVG/MD BY A/U/P/WA/V 77115-7? WM You/11 United States Patent F 2,984,044 MODEL-RAILROAD CAR HAVENG ANIMATED PARTS Harold A. Liugard, Merchantville, and Norman S. Tyler, Wenonah, N.J., assignors to Mantua Metal Products 00., Inc., Woodbury Heights, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 833,462 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-107) This invention relates generally to vehicle mechanisms for simulating animated articles. While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for the simulation of a trainman walking the roof of a model railroad car, and is illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the invention is capable of many, varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

It it one object of the present invention to provide an extremely simple and relatively inexpensive mechanism, operable without separate power, which produces a unique and attractive animation in the movement of an article relative to a vehicle upon movement of the latter.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a structure of the type described wherein a simulated figure is caused to move back and forth in an accurately realistic manner upon continued movement of a vehicle carrying the figure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for a model railway car having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is entirely automatic and foolproof in operation, durable and reliable throughout long periods of continuous use, and which can be economically manu-- factured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter. described, and. of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims. i

In the drawings: 3' V.

Figured is a top perspective view showing a railroad car constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial transverse sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial plan view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a motion transmission mechanism of the present invention, apart from the railroad car.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the railroad car illustrated therein includes a hollow body, generally designated 10, and trucks or wheeled running gear on the underside of the body for rolling engagement with a supporting surface, such as that of railroad tracks. For purposes of illustration, the car body is shown as being a boxcar including vertically spaced, generally horizontal bottom and top walls 13 and 14, respectively, a pair of end walls 15 each extending vertically between Patgented May 16, 1961 each extending vertically between the top and bottom' walls along opposite side edges thereof, and longitudinal- 5 1y between the ends walls 15. Thus, the body 10 is of an interiorly hollow, generally box-like configuration.

The wheeled running gear or trucks 11 may each be of substantially conventional construction, including a generally horizontal frame 18 centrally pivoted to the underside of the body bottom wall 13, as by a pivot 19 shown in Figure 5, and each provided with laterally spaced pairs of wheels 20, each pair being connected together by a transverse or laterally extending axle 21 journaled inthe truck frame. The running gear trucks may have coupling elements 22 of any suitable design. Thus far, the construction described is substantially conventional.

Formed in the top wall 14 of the body 10 is a through opening or slot 24, which may be of an elongate, closed end configuration extending longitudinally of the body and spaced laterally between the side walls 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the slot 24 terminates at its opposite ends adjacent to respective body end walls 15.

Interiorly of the body 10, adjacent to each end wall 15, is located a motion transmission mechanism, generally designated 25. As the motion transmission mechanisms are substantially identical, a detailed description and illustration of one will suffice. In Figure 5, it is seen that the motion transmisison mechanism 25 includes a laterally disposed, generally U-shaped member 26 having a laterally extending intermediate portion 27 secured in facing engagement with the upper or inner surface of the bottom wall 13 by the pivot 19, and having a pair of laterally spaced upstanding legs 28 on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the body. The laterally spaced upstanding legs 28 define pedestals or journals rotatably supporting a laterally extending countershaft 29. That is, the countershaft 29 extends laterally in spaced relation above the bottom wall 13 and has its opposite ends journaled in respective legs 28 so as to be mounted generally horizontally for axial rotation. A pair of endless belts 30, which may in practice be elastic, say rubber bands, each extends about both of the axles 21 beneath the body bottom wall 13, upward through the body bottom-wall, and over the countershaft 29.

A mounting structure is generally designated 32, and maybe fabricated of an integral strip having abase portion 33 extending longitudinally of the bottom wall 13 transversely beneath the medial portion 27 of the sup-' port member 26, and secured in facing engagementfwith the upper or inner surface of .the bottom Wall by the pin wall 15, and is there bent to define a generally vertically upstanding portion 34 having a bracket 35 projecting generally horizontally therefrom, longitudinally inwardly from the adjacent body end wall. The mounting member 32 extends from the upper end of the upstanding portion 34 obliquely upward and longitudinally inward of the body 10, defining the portion 36 which is provided with a through opening 37 vertically over the bracket 35. From the upper end of the oblique portion 36, extends an upstanding arm 38 provided on its upper end with a generally horizontal bracket 39* projecting longitudinally outward of the body 10 toward the adjacent body end wall 15.

A generally vertically disposed shaft 40 extends through the opening 37 of the oblique portion 36 having its upper end rotatably journaled by the bracket 39, and its lower end rotatably journaled by the bracket 35. Carried by the shaft 40 adjacent to its upper end is a sheave, roller ass-4,044

which may be provided at its lower end with a circumferential enlargement or shoulder 42. A sheave, pulley or roller is also carried axially by the lower region of the shaft 40, as at 43. An endless belt 44, which maybe elastic in the nature of a rubber band, is trained about the roller or pulley 43 and the counter shaft 29.

Of course, the mounting structure 32 is duplicated at both ends of the body 10, as are the sheave means 40, 41 and 43. Thus, a pair of the shafts 40 are disposed in substantial parallelism, adjacent to opposite ends of the slot 24; and, the sheaves 41 are respectively located below the slot ends.

Conveyor means in the form of an endless belt 46, which may also be of elastic, say a rubber band, is trained about both of the sheaves 40 to define an elongate endless loop disposed in a generally horizontal plane in parallel spaced relation beneath the body top wall 14 and in substantially vertical alignment with the slot or opening 24.

Exteriorly of the body 10, adjacent to the outer or upper surface of the top wall 14, is arranged an article 48, illustrated as simulating a walking trainman. The article 48 includes a generally horizontal or laterally extending base 49 slidably resting on the upper surface of the body top wall 14, astride the slot 24. Depending from the base 49 through the slot 24 is a connection portion 50, which has its lower end connected to one point of the endless conveyor belt 46.

' In operation, as when the illustrated vehicle moves along a railroad track, rotation of the Wheels 20 effects rotation of the axles 21, which through the belts or hands 19 effects rotation of the countershaft 29. Each of the countershafts 29, through its associated belt 44, elfects rotation of the adjacent sheave shaft 41, resulting in movement of the conveyor belt 46 about its endless path in its generally horizontal plane beneath the top wall 14. The article 48, by its connection portion 50, is caused to move with the belt 46, the base 49 slidably engaging the upper surface of the top wall 14. It will now therefore be appreciated that the trainman figure 48 will move first in one direction along the slot 24 to one end of the slot, then turn around as the adjacent portion of belt 46 passes around the adjacent sheave 41, and move toward the other slot end, where the same turn around procedure occurs.

While the article 48 has been illustrated as movable back and forth along a closed end slot, it is of course appreciated that the article may also be caused to move about the course of an endless slot, as may be desired when the mugs of the endless belt 46 are spaced further apart.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a vehicle having an animated mechanism which fully accomplishes its intended objects and' is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes. of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle of the type described, the combination comprising a hollow body having a top wall, said body being provided in its top wall with a longitudinally extending through slot having its opposite ends closed, wheeled running gear on' the underside of said body at opposite ends thereof for rolling engagement with a supporting surface, a laterally extending axially rotatable countershaft interiorly of said body adjacent to each end thereof, belt means indriving connection between each of said running gear and the adjacent countershaft for axially rotating the latter, an upstanding mounting structure fixed in said body adjacent to each of said countershafts and beneath respective ends of said slot, a vertically disposed axially rotatable shaft mounted in each of said mounting structures, additional belt means in driving connection between each of said countershafts and the lower end of the adjacent vertically disposed shaft, an endless belt extending beneath and along said slot about the upper ends of said vertically disposed shafts for movement about its endless path upon rolling action of said running gear, and an animated article exteriorly of said body top wall depending through said slot and connected to said endless belt for movement about the path thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said article extending. laterally beyond opposite sides of and bridging said slot in sliding engagement with the upper surface of said top wall, to be supported thereby for movement of said article back and forth along said slot upon movement about the path of said endless belt.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said mounting structures and vertically disposed shafts being located longitudinally outward of their respective adjacent countershafts to effect rotation of said vertically disposed shafts both in the same direction.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said mounting structures each being of S-shaped configuration and facing toward the adjacent end of said body for increased structural rigidity and maximum utility of space.

King May 8, 1909 Smith Nov. 11, 1958 

